Mike Weir to swing for arthritis at the RBC Canadian Open

Introducing ALEVE®Birdie Alert for arthritis. A donation* of $1,000 per birdie $2,000 per eagle, and $10,000 for a hole in one will be made to The Arthritis Society of Canada

TORONTO, July 23, 2014 /CNW/ - To kick off its new partnership with Mike Weir, ALEVE is taking a swing in support of the Canadian golf icon and The Arthritis Society during this weekend's RBC Canadian Open. From Thursday, July 24th to Sunday, July 27th, during the RBC Canadian Open, each of Mike's birdies will be matched by a $1,000 donation, each eagle $2,000, and each hole in one a $10,000 donation by ALEVE to The Arthritis Society in support of its goal of boosting care and erasing the pain of arthritis.

Weir, who suffered a 2011 injury to his elbow that developed into arthritis, is working with ALEVE, the over-the-counter pain reliever indicated to temporarily relieve the daily pain and stiffness of arthritis, in hopes of helping other Canadians break free from their pain and get back to doing the things they love. It is estimated that by 2036, the number of Canadians living with arthritis will grow from 4.6 million adults to 7.5 million, or one in five.

The main symptoms of arthritis are chronic joint pain, stiffness and swelling, which can result in significant disability and poor quality of life. "Aleve played a role in the management of my arthritis pain and recovery, helping to get me back to where I was before my injury, so I'm hoping to inspire Canadians by showing them how maintaining an active lifestyle is possible, despite an arthritis diagnosis," explains Weir. He also added, "It was also very important to me that through the Mike Weir Foundation**, proceeds of this initiative will support The Arthritis Society." The strength of Weir's short game bodes well for The Arthritis Society donation.

"Within a generation there will be a new diagnosis of osteoarthritis in Canada every 60 seconds," says Janet Yale, CEO and President of The Arthritis Society. "We need to keep our momentum going to raise awareness and help people affected by the disease to get active again, whether it's gardening, biking, or golf."

Research indicates that exercising with arthritis can decrease pain, increase overall fitness, and improve flexibility as well as your state of mind.

Despite the many setbacks, Weir kept chipping away at his game, overcoming physical and mental roadblocks and re-emerging with incredible results this season, including a second-place finish at the Byron Nelson Championship - his first top-25 finish since 2010. "Mike's road to recovery is a story of inspiration," explains Kent Hatton, Director of Marketing, Bayer Inc. "As an athlete and Canadian, he is an example of determination and perseverance. We are thrilled that he has chosen to carry Aleve in his bag and for us to be part of his team."

*ALEVE®BIRDIE ALERT will donate through the Mike Weir Foundation**For more information on the Mike Weir Foundation visit www.mikeweir.com

About Bayer Inc.Bayer Inc. is a Canadian subsidiary of Bayer AG and the corporate headquarters for the Canadian operations. Founded in 1863, Bayer AG is an international research-based group with core businesses in healthcare, crop science and innovative materials committed to creating a better life for all through science.

In Canada, Bayer operates its healthcare business – Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Animal Health and Radiology & Interventional – from its headquarters in Toronto, ON, and Bayer CropScience Inc. operates out of its head office in Calgary, AB. Together with its material science business, Bayer improves the quality of life for Canadians through products that fight disease, protect crops and animals, and provide high-performance materials for numerous daily life uses.

With more than 1,300 employees across the country, in 2013, Bayer had sales of $1.6 billion and invested $61 million in research and development in Canada. Globally, Bayer AG had sales of €40.2 billion and invested €3.2 billion in research and development. For more information about Bayer, please visit www.bayer.ca.

About The Arthritis SocietyThe Arthritis Society has been setting lives in motion for over 65 years. Dedicated to a vision of living well while creating a future without arthritis, The Society is Canada's principal health charity providing education, programs and support to the over 4.6 million Canadians living with arthritis. Since its founding in 1948, The Society has been the largest non‐government funder of arthritis research in Canada, investing more than $185 million in projects that have led to breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and care of people with arthritis. The Arthritis Society is accredited under Imagine Canada's Standards Program. For more information and to make a donation, visit www.arthritis.ca.

About The Mike Weir FoundationThe Mike Weir Foundation was established in 2004 to advance the physical, emotional and educational welfare of children in Canada. Since inception and through the support of our generous sponsors and donors we are proud to report that over $7 million has been raised for children's wellness with over $4 million of support being provided for children's health care and related causes.